Self-lubricating slide fastener

Abstract

Sorbent cords are saturated with a liquid lubricant and secured in the respective tapes of a slide fastener adjacent the coupling elements to provide lubrication for a slider of the slide fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-lubricating slide fastener comprising a pair of planarly disposed carrier tapes,   coupling means mounted on longitudinal inner edges of the pair of tapes,   a slider slidably mounted on the coupling means for opening and closing the slide fastener,   a sorbent cord extending longitudinally along at least one of the tapes,   said cord secured adjacent to the coupling means, and   a liquid lubricant saturating the cord,   said carrier tapes including means surrounding said cord, which means is free of saturation of said liquid lubricant but provides for passage of the lubricant to needed surfaces of the slide fastener.   
     
     
       2. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is included a second cord saturated with the liquid lubricant in the other tape and surrounded by the surrounding means of the tapes. 
     
     
       3. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 2 wherein the coupling means includes a pair of spiral coupling elements formed from a continuous filament, each of the tapes includes a plurality of warp threads and an interwoven weft thread passing around the respective coupling element and interwoven with the respective plurality of warp threads, and the surrounding means includes portions of the respective weft threads and several of the respective plurality of the warp threads adjacent to the respective coupling elements. 
     
     
       4. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 wherein the coupling elements have heel portions abutting the cords. 
     
     
       5. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier tapes are formed from longitudinally folded polymer film strips having transverse slits defining looped strap portions extending transversely over the folded edges of the tapes, the coupling means includes a pair of continuous coupling elements having head portions protruding from the slits and having interconnecting portions extending through the looped strap portions, and there is included a second sorbent cord saturated with the liquid lubricant, said first and second cords being enclosed within the respective folded edges and abutting the interconnecting portions of the coupling elements for dispensing lubricant through the slits. 
     
     
       6. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 5 including stitching means securing folded portions of the tapes together, said stitching means passing through holes formed in the film strips and through which lubricant passes to the outside surface of the tape. 
     
     
       7. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling means includes a pair of meander coupling elements formed from continuous filaments into successive convolutions each having a head portion, a pair of leg portions extending from opposite sides of the head portion, and heel portions extending in planes parallel to the tapes and interconnecting adjoining convolutions of the coupling elements. 
     
     
       8. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 7 wherein the leg portions and heel portions extend on respective opposite sides of the tapes, the tapes are each formed from a plurality of warp cords and an interwoven weft thread, at least one of the warp cords adjacent to the inner edge of each tape being saturated with the liquid lubricant, and stitching means attaching the coupling elements to the inner edges of the tapes.